Improved box for matches



H. HOWSON;

Match Box.

Patented Jan. 21, 1862 lnuenz or:

N. PETERS. Phulo-Lllhogmpbur. Washingmn, D. c.

UNITED STATES ATENT tries.

HENRY HOWSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO V. F. \VARBURTON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVED BOX Foe MATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,?30, dated January l, 1662.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY HowsoN, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. have invented an Improved Safe or BOX for Matches, &c.; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists of a tilting receptacle, having a projecting front, and hung to a stationary frame of such a shape as to form the cover for the said receptacle, which is rendered, by weighting or otherwise, self-closing against the cover, the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as described hereinafter for containing matches and other articles, preserving them from exposure and permitting their ready removal.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

011 reference to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part of this specification, Figure 1 is avertical section of myiniproved box or safe for containing matches, &c.; Fig. 2, a front view; Fig. 3, a View of the plate for forming the stationary frame; Fig. 4, the plate for forming the tilting receptacle; and Figs. 5 and 6, modifications of the box or safe.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The safe is made of two parts-the stationary frame A and the receptacle 1% for the matches. The frame, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, has a horizontal top or cover-plate, a, with a turned-up flange, b, and end plates, 0 and c,wl1ich, in the present instance, are of the angular form represented, and between which the receptacle B fits snugly, but so as to vibrate freely, this receptacle having an inclined or proj ecting front, d, a rounded rear, 6, an opening, f, at the top, and being closed at each end, one end being provided with a projection, h, passing through the plate 0, and the other with a similar projection passing through the plate 0 of the outer casing. These projections form the axis on which the receptacle B vibrates, the rear of the latter forming the segment of a hollow cylinder, of which this axis is the center, and the latter being so situated that the rear of the re ceptacle prepondera'tes and tends to maintain the upper edge of the inclined front (Z in confact with the under side of the top plate, a, of the frame. This preponderance of the rear of the receptacle may be increased by a weight,

z, or a spring, or, (shown by dotted lines,) may be introduced for effecting the desired purpose. The safe thus constructed may be secured to a wall, 0, by nails or tacks passing through holes in the turned-up flange I). Then a match has to be taken from the receptacle the finger is placed on the upper edge of its projecting front (I, (a part of the top plate, a, being cut away for the purpose,) and the receptacleis drawn down to the position shown in dotted lines, which is such as to permit the ready withdrawal of the match by the same finger or fingers which caused the depression. XVhen the receptacle is released from the pressure of the fingers it will instantly recover its former position, the upper edge of its projecting front resting against the plate A of the frame, which thus serves as a cover for maintaining the matches free from exposure, and preventing their ac cidental ignition. The upper edge of the rounded rear 0 of the receptacle should be as near as possible to the under side of the plate a of the frame, which may be provided with a projection, m, for limiting the depression of the front of the receptacle.

In forming the above-described safe of sheetiron, tinned plates, or other metal easily bent, two pieces only are necessary-namely, that shown in Fig. 3 for forming stationary frame, and that represented by Fig. 4. for forming the receptacleas will be readily understood without further description.

Then the safe has to stand on a desk, table,

- &c., the end plates of the frame may be made in the form represented in Fig. 5, or that seen in Fig. 6, the latter showing the form in which I propose to make the safe of cast-iron.

The top plate, a, of the frame or the front of the receptacle, or both, maybe sanded or otherwise roughened, so as to present a proper surface against which to strike the matches.

Although I have described my invention as a repository for matches, for which purpose it is especially well adapted, it will be evident that it is applicable to other purposes. For

instance, it may form a useful adjunct to the l and open top when so hung to,and so combined toilet-table for containing pins, &c., or to the writing-desk for containing postagestamps, &c. In fact, it forms a serviceable self-closing box for any articles which have to be frequently removed.

Without confining myself to the precise form of the stationary'franie, which may be considerably modified without losing any of its prop erties as a support and cover for the tilting receptacle, which may be also modified in form I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The receptacle B, with its projecting front with an outer frame or casing, A, of such a shape that the latter shall form a cover for the said receptacle, and when the latter is rendered by a weight or otherwise self-closing against the cover, substantially as set forth, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY HOYVSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN VVHITE, O. HowsoN. 

